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ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 24,1882.

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ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS.

No. 252,748. Patented Jan. 24,1882.

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ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS. No. 252,748. Patented Jan. 24,1882'.

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ELECTRIC LIGHTING APPARATUS. No. 252,-'748. Patented Jan. 24,1882.

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I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES Gr. FARMER, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, OF NE-T YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC `LIGHTING APPARATUS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,748, dated January 24, 1882. v

` Application filed January 19, 1850.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, Moses G. FARMER, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Newport, in the county ot Newport and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and Improved Electric Lighting Apparatus, as well as new and improved apparatus thereto pertaining, of which improvements the following' is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to a method of and apparatus for producing light by causing a current of electricity to traverse one or more sections ot'a conductor, which sections are composed of some suitable conducting material refractory to heat, having a considerably higher resistance per unitof length than the remainder ot' the circuit, by means ot' which resistance a portion ofthe electricity which traverses the circuit is converted into heat, which, when ot' sufficient intensity, pro- (luces light.

The object of this invention is automatically to regulate the strength ot current passing through a circuit in which electric lights are included, so as to secure unit'ormity of illumi nat-ion and avoid the liability ot fusing the light-giving portions of the lamps.

The subject-matter` claimed is hereinafter specifically designated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan or top view ot' the apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are elevations showing two oppositev sides thereot. Fig. 4 is an end elevation ot` the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus with the top plate re moved so as to exhibit the mechanism beneath, and Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 7 is ade'tached view, in elevation, of the electric cut-oft' apparatus. Fig. 8 is a detached view, in elevation, ot' one of the lamps, showing the details of its construction.

The frame ofthe apparatusconsists ot'a base or bottom plate, B2, to which are attached four upright standards, A A2 A3 A4, which serve to support a top'plate, B.

In the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I have shown three lamps, L', L2, L3, placed in three separate branches of one electric circuit, so arranged that the current divides itself' bctween them inversely in proportion to their re- 5o spectivc resistanees. I will tirst describe the construction and mode of operation of these lamps, and afterward describe the mechanism which I pret'er to make use ot' for automatically regulating the strength ofthe electric current passing through the lamps.

It a bar, wire, or strip of platinum, iridium, or other similar metal refractory to heatthat is,t"usible only at a very high temperature-be made incandescent by the passage ot' an elec- 6o tric current through it, a mild and pleasant light is emitted, much less concentrated and glaring than the light obtained from the voltaic arc between carbon pencils, and ot much more ainitorm character, provided the electric currentisrnaintainedatauniform strength. Platinum affords alight equivalent to about one hundred candles per square inch oi' incandescent surface when within 2200 of its temperature of fusion, while iridium, from its higher 7o melting-point, produces a still greater proportionate amount of light. In accordance with this principle, in constructing my lamp I make use of a bar or strip, w, of one ot' the hereinbeiore-mentioned.metals, preferably aiiatstrip, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, the thickness ot' which isahoutonc-tenth orless of its grcatestbreadth. This is attixed in an upright position between two metallic standards, P3 P4, in the manner best seen in Fig.- S, (which is a side elevation 8o ot' the lamp L, shown in the plan view, Fig. 1,) by means otsuitable clamps, P P2. These standards are secured to a base ot'anysuitable non-conducting material by means ot' screws j", f2, or otherwise. Alever-switch, S3, provided with an insulatingknob or handle, serves to close or open the branch ot' the circuit passing through the lamp when it is desired to turn the light on or ot.

The lamp L (see Fig. l) is provided with a 9o similar switch, I sometimes preterto use a (litiercnt arrangement, known as the pegswitch, (an example ot' which is seen at'S" in Fig. 1,) in which the circuit is completed by inserting a slightlyconical metaliicplug between two metallic bars insulated from each other.

Having thus described the construction of the lamp, l will next proceed to explain the mechanism which I have devised for maintaining a uniform current of any desired degree of strength through the lamp. y

One of the main conductors proceeding from the electric generator Y (which may be a dy namo-electric machine, a galvanic battery, o r other suitable source of electricity) is attached to the binding-screw C4. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) The current passes thence to thebindin gscrew C5 through a regulator consisting of an automatically-adjustable rheostat, hereinafter described, thence by the wire o, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, to the binding-screw C2, Fig. l, antl thence by the wire o', dividing atj',j2, and j3 into three branches, leading respectively to the three lamps L', L2, and L3, these branches again uniting upon a single wire, e2, at the points jjf, andj, their several routes being as follows: from thelamp L' to the binding-post SG, thence through a regulator, hereinafter described, to the binding-post S7, thence to the wire Iv2 atj; from the lamp L2, by the wire o2, to an automatic cut-off, hereinafter described, thence by the wire a to the wire a2 atjt; from the lamp L3 the current passes directly to the wire v2, thence through the electromagnetic ormagnetizing helices M' of an automatic regulator, hereinafter described. rlhe wire v2 terminates at the binding-screw C', to which is attached the return main conductor leading back to the other pole of the electrical generator.

The automatic regulator, which is interposed in the circuit leading from the source of electricityand in the main conductor, (or portion thereof which is common to all thelamps in the syste1n,) may be constructed in various ways, the gencralgprinciple being that any increase in the normal strength of the current acting upon the regulator shall set in action mechanism acting to-diminish said current, while the Vreverse effect will take place when the strength of the current acting upon the regulator is diminished. One very effective arrangement for this purposcis shown in the drawings, which I will now proceed to described.

A cylinder or roller, G', Fig. 3, composed of non-conducting material, is shown as mounted upon a metallic standard, D. Another cylinder or roller, G2, of similar size and form, but composed ot' metal, is mounted upon a metallic standard, D2. Athird cylinderor roller,G",of considerably greaterdiameteris mounted above the rollers G' and G2, but in the same vertical plane,upon a standard, D2. A flexible strip or ribbon composed of some conducting metal having considerable specific resistance to the passage of a current-such, for example, as German silver-having one of its ends attached to the nonconducting roller G' at the point It', passes thence around the periphery ofthe said roller,acrosstothemctallicrollerG2,and around its periphery in the opposite direction, terminating at thepoint R2. Abandof cloth. paper, or other suitable insulatingmaterial, G4, isalso attached at the point 1t', and passes around the roller G', asshown in thedrawings,beneath the metallic ribbon. This insulating-ribbon G4 is wound upon the large roller G", the slack being taken up and the ribbon kept tight by means of the spiral spring 4t acting upon the pulley G8 by .means of the bell-crank lever G7 and the cord G6.

It beingpremised that one terminal of the metallic ribbon It' is connected through the axis-standard D8 of the roller G' with the bindingscrew C4, while its other terminal, R2, isin like manner connected through the standard D7 and metallic body ofthe roller G2 with the biudingserew G5, it will be readily seen that the revolution of the rollers G' and G2 in the direction indicated by the arrows would have the effect otincreasing the resistance of the circuit between C* and C5, because the current only'has to pass through such portion of the ribbon R' R2 as is not in contact with the lnetallic roller G2. Therefore the more the ribbon is wound upon theinsulating-roller G' and oli' from the metallic roller G2 the greater will be the resistance, and vice versa. A great advantage is gained by making this resistanceconductor in the form of a broad and thin ribbon, as its great radiating-surface tends to prevent it fr :n becoming unduly heated by the passage'of the current. The required movement of the rollers G' and G2 in one direction or the'other I prefer to eti'ect by means of an independentmotor. (Bestseen in Figs2 and 5.) The particular construction and arrangement of this motor are immaterial. Any known form of electromotor will serve the purpose well.

I have shown a well-known form of electromotor, consisting of three straight electro-inagnets, M5 M6 M7, fixed at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees with each other upon a common axis, K', mounted in bearings D3 D4, and arranged to revolve between the north poles Nh and the south poles Sh of three sta tionary permanentmagnets. (See Fig.5.) By means of commutators L" 7.22 7c, of well-known construction, an electric currentpassing` through the electro-magnets is reversed at such intervals as to create alternate attraction and repulsion between the poles ofthe permanent and electro magnets, and thus produce a rapid rotation of the axle K'. The electric current for actuating this motor may be derived from an independent source of electricity connected with the binding-screws C and C10; orit may be taken from the main currentby means of a branch or derived circuit, in a manner well understood.

Upon the axis K' of the electromotor is an endless screw or worm, A', which works into the teeth of a wheel, IV, (see Fig. 2,) upon the axle K2 of which is a pinion, P2. (See Figs. 5 and 6.) A universal joint, V', Fig. 5, in the axle permits the pinion P2 to be moved horizontally in one direction or the other, so as to engage with one or the other ot' the toothed wheels F' F2, which are mounted upon therespective axles K3 KI of the rollers G' G2.

As the motor hereinbefore described, when in action, always revolves in one direction, carrying with it the axle K2 and pinion P2,

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it is obvious that the system of rollers G', G2, and G3 will becaused to turn in one direction or the other as the pinion P2 is engaged with one or the other of the toothed wheels F' F2.

I will now describe the mechanism whereby the pinion P2 is shifted and the manner in which it is automatically' operated by the increase or decrease of the normal current traversing the system.

Referring to Fig. 4, M' represents one of a pair of electro-magnetic or magnetizing helices, which are placed in one of the branch circuits uniting the poles of the generator, as shown in Fig. l.

Instead ofthe arrangement of soft-iron cores and armature ordinarily employed in electroinagnets, I generally prefer to make use of movable cores in connection with the magnetiZing-helices M', which cores tend to be drawn into said helices by the action of the electric current. Themovablecorcsorarmatures,as the case may be, are attached to one end of a horizontal beam or lever, B, pivoted at or near its center upon a standard, F, the attractive force of the helices heilig opposed by the constant force of an adjustable antagonistic spring, 2.

' The lever B is capable of a slight oscillatory motion upon its axis in a vertical plane, which oscillation is limited in each direction by adjustable screw stops inserted in standardsf and b, of insulatingr material, and with its con-v nections, hereinafter described, forms a circuit-changer which is actuated by the helices M'.

One pole of a battery or other generator of electricity is connected with the standard F by means ofthe wire fw', which terminates in a binding screw, C3. rI he adjustable contactscrew fis connected by wire 102 with bindingpost (Rand thence b v wiretr* (see Fig.5) with electro -magnet M3. Similarly, the contactscrew bis connected by wire w3, binding-post C, and wire 105 (see Fig. 5) with electro-inagnet M4. rIhe electro-magnets M3 and M4 are connected by wires w'and 10G, respectively, with a common binding-post, C, to which the rc maining pole otthe battery or other generator above mentioned is connected. I here remark that the regulator may be supplied with electricity by means of a branch from the main circuit which supplies the lamps, if preferred, in the same manner as the motor hereinbefore referred to. In triest cases it will be found preferable to include the motor in the returncircuit, which is common to the electro-magnets M3 and M4, which may'be effected by conuecting the binding-screws G2 and G2 by means of a wire and the binding-screws G3 and C9 with a source of electricity', in which case the motor will only be set in action when the pinion P2 is shifted in one direction or the other p by the action ofthe regulator.

current will be directed through one or the other ofthe electro-magnets M2 lll-l, as the case may be. By reference to Fig. 5 it will readily be understood that the electro-magnet M3, when set in action, will attract its armature, and thus throw the pinion P2 into gear with the wheel F', and in like manner the magnet M4 will throw the pinion 'i'ntogear with the wheel F2. Thus, if the current through the regulatingmagnet M' tends to become too strong, the lever B makes contact with the point f, throwing the magnet MS into action, which shifts the pinion 'P2 in such a manner as to cause the motor to inter-pose an increased resistance in the circuit, in the manner hereinbefore explained,and thus reduce the strength of the current passing through the magnet M and the lamps to itsnormal limit. A decrease in the normal strength ot' current acts in the same manner upon the magnet M4, and by reversing the operation above described withdraws a certain amount of resistante from the circuit. By this means t-he current traversing the lamps may be automatically kept at all times at a practically uniiorm strength, which may be adjusted at pleasure by altering the tension ofthe spring 2 andthe position ofthe contact-stops fand b.

I sometimes prefer to arrange the lever B so as to work against movable levers l e and l b, Fig. et, which are hinged or pivoted to upright standards b', E', and E2, and are normally kept in contact with adjustable stops by means ot' springs l and 3. 'Ihese are so adj usted that the beam or lever B breaks one contact at the same instant that it makes the other. Ihus the interval between the alternate action of the magnets Ms and M4 may he lessened. lt will be understood that by means of the regulating devices abovev described the. danger ot' fusing the metallic strip which forms the lightproducing portion ofthe lamp is avoided.

In puttingalamp in action by closing its appropriate switch the resistance of the lightproducing portion of the lamp constantly increases as its temperat u'e becomes higher, and this increase in the resistance of the lamp tends to weaken the current, which instantly affects the automatic regulator in the manner hereinbefore descr ibed, and causes it to diminishthe resistance of the rheostat, so that the resistance of the latter decreases as that of the lamp increases, and vice versa.

In addition to the general regulator above described, it is frequently advisable to provide each individual lamp with a special device tor controlling the current passing through it without reference to the others. I have slrnvn an automatic cnt-oit' applird to one ot' the lamps, L2, for this purpose. (See Figs. 1 and T.) This device consists ot' an electro-magnet, M2, (best seen in Fig. 7,) having` its armature attached to a pivoted lever, u, which is provided with a retracting-spring, a9, arranged in the ordinary manner. A tint spring, e", is mounted upon an insulatingsupport upon the armaturelever a, and whenever the lever is drawn down IOO IOS

by the action of the electro-magnet the under side of the free end ofthe spring o2 touches the post v10 and lifts the spring from the contactpoiut ou on the end ofthe lever v6.

By tracing the circuit ofthe lamp L2 in Fig. l it will he seen that it passes from the lamp by the wire 'r3 to the coils ot' the electro-magnet. M2, thence by'wire o5 to the base of the apparatus and the level' '06, which is electrically a part ot' it, and thence through the contactpoint e, spring o7, and wire r2 to thejunction of the common return-wire atj". Thus it will be seen thatam inercasein the normal strength otI the current traversing the lamp L2 and the electro-magnet M2 will cause the lever c to be slightly drawn down. rlhis movement will cause the electro-magnet to break its own circuit between yif and ci, which will, however, be instantly restored as soon as the magnetism oi' the magnet M2 is in any degree weakened. By adjusting the contact screw v the normal strength of current which itis desired to maintain can be regulated with great precision.

The above-described arrangement may be modified by connecting a wire, cl2, from the post vw (which must be insulated from its base) to a point between the lamp L2 and the pegswitch S4, (see Fig. 1,) in which case the current through the lamp will be diminished ,when too strong, by the last-named connection acting as a shunt and diverting a portion of the current to the branch passing around and outside ofthe lamp L2 and magnet M2.

Another form of cut-oit or regulator (not automatic in its action) is shown in Figs. l and S in connection with the lamp L. The branch of this lamp is separated at a point between the binding-posts SG and S7, to which posts are attached two parallel wires, u u2, of platinum, iridium, or other suitable alloy of high specific resistance, upon which a Inovable metal block, R', is fitted to slide, and which forms an electrical connection between the said wires, thus completing' the circuit. By sliding the block t to a greater distance from the binding-posts SG and S7 the current is forced to pass through a greater length ot the resisting-wires u a2, and its force may in this manner be decreased at pleasure or increased by moving the block It in the opposite direction.

I do not limit myself to the specific construction and organization ofapparatus shown, as these details may be greatly varied without departing from the principles of my invention.

I do not herein claim the details oi' the apparatus for controlling the operations of the rheostat, the location thereofl in a branch or derived circuit, or the t'orin or construction of the lamp; nor do l claim preventing the fusion or illuminating conductors by interrupting or slumting theI currents, or the method of connecting lampsin multiple arcor multiple series, as these constitute the subjects-matter of other pending divisions ot' this application.

I claim as of my own invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a generator ot' electricity, a circuit ot' conductors uniting the poles of said generator, one or more electric lamps included in said circuit, a rheostat consisting of flat metallic ribbon which is included in said circuit, two rollers, one composed ot' conducting and the other ot' non-conducting` material, arranged substantially as described, for winding said ribbon hack and forth from one to the other ot' said rollers, and a band oinon-conducting material interposed between thc several convolutions oi' the ribbon upon the nonconducting roller.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbetore set, fort-h, ot' a generator of electricity, a circuit of conductors uniting the poles ot' said generator, one or more electric lamps ineluded in said circuit, a rheostat consisting of a ribbon of conducting material, which is capable of adjustment by being wound 'from a conducting to a non-conducting roller, and the reverse, and an additional actuating-roller for winding said ribbon in one direction or the other.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a generator of electricity, a circuit of conductors uniting` the poles ot' said-generator, one or more electric lamps included in said circuit, a rheostat consisting of a ribbon of conducting material included in said circuit, which is capable of adjustment by heilig wound from a conducting to a nonconducting roller, and the reverse, and mechanism for winding said ribbon in one direction or the other, consisting of' a roller,a driving-shaft, a shifting-pinion, and two toothed wheels which are driven in opposite directions by the saine motor. A

4. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a generator ot' electricity, a circuit of conductors uniting the poles ol" said generator, one or more electric lamps included in said circuit, av rheostat included in said circuit, consisting ot' a ribbon ot' conducting material, the resistance oi' which is capa- `ble of adjustment by winding the ribbon i'rom a conducting` to a non-conducting roller, and the reverse, a motor which eii'ects such adjustment by moving in one direction, and a shifting or reversing device controlled by one or more independent electro-magnets, the respective action ot` which is determined by a regulator actuated by the current which passes through the rheostat.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a generator ot electricity, a circuit of conductors uniting` the poles ot' said generator, one or more electric lamps included in said circuit, and a rheostat or artificial resistance (included in said circuit) consisting ot' a thin tlat metallic ribbon having a large radiating-surface.

MOSES G. FARMER.

Witnesses:

SARAH J. FARMER, DAnIUs BAKER.

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